A controversial plan by the Singapore based Powerplus Group, to mine sand along a 38 kilometre stretch of coastline in Madang has been defeated.

The government regulator, the Mineral Resource Authority, has written to mining opponents informing them that the mine exploration application has been withdrawn.

This comes after the sand mining application was met with strong opposition from local communities and environmentalists and concern from local tourism operators.

A new doodle-style video has been launched that explains how Papua New Guinea’s reliance on large-scale mining and export logging has failed to improve the lives of most people and why PNG now ranks below its Pacific neighbors on most development indicators.

The increase in duty on round log exports, introduced in the 2020 budget, is having a positive effect according to analysis conducted by ACT NOW!

The higher export duty has both increased government revenue and driven down the level of logs exports inline with government policy.



By Duncan Gabi / first published by My Land My Country

Authors: Duncan Gabi and Vernon Gawi / Project Sepik

PROJECT SEPIK CALLS ON THE NATIONAL NEWSPAPER TO REFRAIN FROM PUBLISHING FAKE UNSUBSTANTIATED NEWS AND TO APOLOGIZE TO THE PEOPLE OF PAPUA NEW GUINEA FOR MISINFORMING THEM REGARDING THE APPROVAL OF FRIEDA MINE.

US adds Malaysia’s Sime Darby to palm import ban list

By Lauren Moffitt / Argus Media

US customs has barred entry to raw palm oil and derived products supplied by Malaysian producer Sime Darby Plantation and affiliated entities from yesterday, citing evidence of forced labour in its production process.

Nogat Coal PNG

Today, The Pacific Climate Warriors in conjunction with the Nogat Coal Campaign, organised a protest at the AGM of Australian energy company Mayur Resources. The ASX-listed company is planning to develop a coal industry in Papua New Guinea (PNG) – including a coal-fired power station on the doorstep of Lae, the country’s second largest city. If Mayur’s plan succeeds, PNG would be the first Pacific country with a coal industry. 

While the government boasts of K100 million placed with Bank of South Pacific to support small and medium scale enterprises (SME) this money is inaccessible to those working in the informal sector who need it the most.

As Naomi’s story illustrates, a lack of financial literacy, appropriate training, and financial inclusion means many entrepreneurs who work hard every day to make just a few Kinas remain completely excluded from the support they need.

Naomi’s Story

1.  The Forestry Act 1991 is 30 years old and has been weakened by many amendments.

2.  Very limited implementation: most operations are old concession types - Timber Rights Purchase (TRP) / Local Forest Area (LFA). 

3.  Under the Act our forest resource has been depleted; unsustainable harvests + extensive forest clearance. 

4.  Act is completely outdated as the national and international context has changed: